by Janet Jones
"That's how it works.” Ellory swiped his visor down again, put the Harley in gear and started forward, gathering speed. “That's how everything about us works."
"Not me."
He didn't say anything to that. They caught up with the others just as they converged on the moonlit beach.
Sean and Jenny settled Shelby on a blanket and made a fire. Ellory and Talisen joined them. The others became shadows in the darkness on the beach, beyond the light of the flames. They'd formed teamsfor an impromptu soccer game. Talisen could scarcely follow them with her eyes, they glided so swiftly.
Meinrad let out a ghoulish war-cry and sent the ball flying out of sight with a butt of his head. Shouts of “no fair” and “foul” echoed up and down the beach, and his siblings flew at him from different directions and tackled him.
"We need more wood,” Jenny murmured.
Talisen glanced at the vampiress. The flames danced in her dark violet eyes as she looked at Sean.
He rose and reached for her hand. “We can fix that."
"Don't get lost,” Ellory called after them.
They looked back with broad grins and meandered out of sight into the forest.
Ellory wrapped his arms around Talisen, leaned back against a boulder, and drew her back against him. They watched Shelby play, responding every now and then to her chatter, soaking up the moonlight, waves and wind. Talisen began to relax. She knew it was Ellory's doing, but it was irresistible. Contentment filled her up—except for the hum of heat she sensed in him.
Ellory tangled his fingers in her hair, and a red-black chord of need underscored the raw current that connected them. Was that his hunger waking up? A jolt of desire caught her completely unaware. Talisen closed her eyes, aghast at her soul's response to his. She found herself bobbing on a sea of anticipation in spite of herself. She needed him.
He pressed a kiss on her temple and threaded his fingers through hers. He knew what she was feeling. It half-humiliated and half-excited her. And of the two, excitement began to disarm her self-preservation. He wrapped his arms around her and held her silently, and his embrace filled her with a sense of well-being. Trickery. Vampire magic.
But gradually, against her will, Talisen sank into a heady mixture of acceptance, lust, warmth and serenity that left her pliant in his arms, even as her mind grasped at defiance. His arms felt too good, too strong and sure—too human—for her to resist the peace, protection and pleasure he promised.
It couldn't be real. He couldn't be real.
A group of teenagers walked past. The fledglings halted their game and stood as still as stone. An intensity enveloped them. Alertness quivered along their thought-paths. They followed the humans with their gazes until the young people receded into the darkness. No smiles. No words. Just dark, staring eyes. Raw excitement blanketed their faces. En masse, they turned to look at Ellory.
Talisen's heart raced. They wouldn't do it. Not in front of Shelby. She swallowed, thinking of the young people, their carefree laughter. They didn't have a clue what was about to happen to them. They wouldn't even remember it. So vulnerable. Easy prey. She swallowed again.
The earth shifted under her as Ellory set her aside. He knelt behind Shelby and whispered to her. Her eyes drooped, and her gaze became utterly focused on her toys. Ellory stood and wiped the sand from his hands slowly. And nodded.
The fledglings sprang away, murmuring challenges to one another like children playing tag. Before they'd gotten ten feet from the fire, they disappeared. Just vanished.
Talisen held her breath, blinked once, and exhaled. She listened. Would there be a scream? A cry for help? She stood and trotted a few paces in the direction they'd taken and listened harder.
Nothing. No sound at all in the distant dark, not the slightest indication that a band of humans had just been attacked by vampires.
She should have warned the youngsters. She could still warn them. Heedless, she cupped her hands to her mouth, filled her lungs with a breath, and—did nothing. Her warning died unspoken. She exhaled, confused and angry, and turned to glare at Ellory. “Did you just do what I think you did?"
He cleared his throat softly. She could hear both apprehension and resolve in his voice. “I know that was difficult for you. But there is no need for us to pretend around you anymore, and I would as well you didn't deprive my children of their nourishment."
She let her gaze fall to the sand and grass at her feet. So he'd made her a traitor to her own kind now? When she looked up again, Ellory was standing within arm's reach of her. His eyes were hot-black, rich with reward and devotion she couldn't deny, with promises she knew he'd keep.
He whispered the words, “One vein. One heart. One blood. You cannot live with one foot in your world and one in mine, Talisen.” He held out his hand.
She lifted a foot to step backward and found herself in his arms instead, filling her hands with his mahogany hair, and turned her face up to his for his kiss. “This isn't fair."
He kissed her softly on the mouth. “No, it isn't, but at least you're safe. If you'll listen to what's going on inside you, you'll realize you're changing. You're yielding to your need for me, to your need to be happy and safe. It's your soul's response to our bond. Just trust it. Trust me."
As though his very verbalization of it made it true, her need for him ignited inside of her until she could scarcely stand it. Just before she lost herself in his kiss, she spied Jenny and Sean out of the corner of her eye, walking their way.
She turned her head aside and slipped away. “We've got company."
Ellory gave a painful laugh and reached for her anyway. “Please, come here and kiss me again before I die."
She shook her head and returned to Shelby, just as Sean staggered into the ring of firelight behind Jenny. He plopped down, breathing hard, mouth parted and eyes aglow.
Jenny paused to tuck her shirttails in before crouching to watch him. She caught her lower lip in her teeth. Her fangs had scarcely receded.
Ellory looked from one to the other and laughed softly. He pushed Sean's head down until it rested between the boy's trembling knees. “Incredible how demanding it is to find firewood these days."
Sean gave a breathless laugh and lifted his head, lurching onto all fours to crawl in Jenny's direction. Ellory caught him and sat him down again. “Give it a rest, boy. The night's scarcely half gone."
Sean settled back and cast a sheepish glance at his little sister. “Hey, Shelby, nice horse condos."
She didn't answer him, didn't even look up.
His smile faded, and he scowled at Ellory. “You know, I really hate it when you do that to her."
Talisen felt Ellory flinch inwardly, but it didn't show on his face. He looked out to sea with a shrug of one shoulder. “Bear in mind, I do it this way out of deference to your wishes. I can change that."
What were they talking about?
Sean looked at him with pleas visible enough in his eyes to put a lump in Talisen's throat. He shook his head. “No."
Ellory looked down at him, his face inscrutable. “She is the most vulnerable among us, and yet I leave her utterly unprotected. Because that's the way you want it."
Sean ducked his head. “I know."
"Keep your recriminations to yourself, then. I will have no more of them. Understood?"
Sean nodded and turned his gaze on the fire, his eyes glistening. The hurt on his face was enough to show how unusual it was for Ellory to reprimand him like that.
Talisen eyed Ellory's broad back. Remind me to add bully to my list of reasons why I don't like you.
He bowed his head and dug his heel into the grass under his boot. Her jibe didn't get a rise out of him. His response was soft and devoid of emotion, as though he'd shut down. I'm sure I seem like that to you.
What's this problem about Shelby?
I have yet to establish a blood bond with her, because Sean cannot bear the idea. Understandably. But that leaves Shelby unprotected from others of
our kind.
Talisen ran a hand through Shelby's hair. The thought of the little girl at the hands of monsters like Blazek turned her stomach. It also brought with it a realization she'd rather have ignored. But honesty wouldn't allow her to. Ellory didn't have to give Sean a choice in the matter, but he had. That wasn't the act of an evil creature.
Ellory? Shelby won't know what's happening when you do it, will she?
He growled. Of course not. What do you take me for?
Talisen looked seaward, so she didn't have to look at him. Well ... you've done the right thing to let Sean decide.
She felt him turn toward her, felt it as though she'd seen him do it. This bond between them ... it was growing stronger ... pulling her closer to him with every minute. How long could she hold out? She met his gaze because she couldn't bear not to.
He regarded her with uncertainty in his eyes that made him seem human. Truly? I've done the right thing by the boy?
She nodded up at him.
He turned to eye the darkness. Ah. Here they are.
He let Shelby surface from her trance as the fledglings ambled out of the darkness, laughing and talking as though they'd been for a moonlight stroll. Talisen couldn't get over the change in them. Their faces were flushed and vibrant. They sat down in a circle around the fire, eyes heavy, bodies still and pliant. They even yawned.
Ellory hovered on the periphery of their camaraderie. She watched his gaze flit between Meinrad and the darkness beyond their campfire and sensed an undercurrent of apprehension in him. He was waiting. For what?
Conversation around the campfire died in mid-sentence. Heads turned. Mouths gaped. The fledglings were on their feet before Talisen was aware that they had moved. The next thing she knew, they had her, Sean, and Shelby surrounded. The six young vampires trained their gazes on the shadowy beach beyond the light of their fire. Ellory moved to stand between them and the unseen object of their attention.
Talisen stared until her eyes burned, trying to see over Christophe or between Delfina and Meinrad. She reached for their silent channels and gasped at the wash of fear that enveloped them. Who could they possibly be afraid of?
She felt Sean's hands rest on her shoulders with a light squeeze. His whisper tickled her cheek. “Look. There."
A tall, graceful man with ebony skin materialized from out of the shadows. He wore a white robe, and as he approached, he pushed back his cowl and smiled serenely, holding out his hands in a gesture of supplication.
A prince? An angel? He was the closest thing to either Talisen had ever seen. Whatever he was, she knew he wasn't a vampire, though she wasn't sure how she could tell.
His robust, infectious laugh made him seem harmless. “On behalf of your queen and mine, Ellory Benedict, I wish peace on your house. Be at your ease."
Talisen blinked. Queen? They had royalty?
Ellory crossed his arms, his tone anything but welcoming. “I know your errand, Master Suvee."
The dark one folded his hands together in front of him. His twinkling eyes lit on Meinrad.
Meinrad, standing in front of Talisen, shifted on his feet. She felt his fear seep through his trembling shoulder blades.
Christophe, Talisen whispered along their thought-path, there's something weird about this guy. What is it?
Christophe spat into the grass. His words reverberated through their shared thoughts so hot and swift that everyone winced. He's a revenant—a human enslaved and immortalized by a vampire. They live on the blood of their creator. Revenants are impervious to the sun and possess some of our powers. That makes them good at finding and exterminating us.
That was a revenant, too? He was nothing like the one who had attacked her and Ellory last night. They feed on vampires? Talisen snorted. That sort of puts the shoe on the other foot, doesn't it?
No one smiled at her attempted humor. Christophe spat again. Adrienne shushed him. Meinrad shook. The rest of them squeezed closer to one another for comfort. Shelby squirmed until Sean picked her up so she could see better.
"Sean?” the little girl murmured.
"What, honey?"
"I don't think we brought enough marshmallows for that man to have any."
"It's all right. He won't want any."
Talisen watched Ellory stab his hands into his pockets. There was defiance in his voice, tempered with cold civility. “Where is your mate, Master Suvee?"
"Growing a new jugular.” The revenant shrugged. “She crossed paths with the Alchemist a fortnight past. But she's mending, through Freya's generosity."
"The Alchemist is back?” Ellory knuckled his chin and stared at the ground. “We'd best get the warning out."
Talisen leaned closer to Georgina. Who's the Alchemist?
For once, there wasn't a trace of sarcasm in her voice. The devil himself. The vampire of vampires. He fancies himself a scientist. Experiments on his own kind. Mostly fledglings, because they're easily captured.
Talisen shuddered. Experiments? What's he after?
As if it matters. He's quite mad.
Is he stronger than Ellory?
He's stronger than everyone. He's been around forever. Some say he still has the floorplan of the Library of Alexandria memorized.
Talisen whistled softly. And he's still walking around?
Georgina tugged Meinrad's sleeve. What's all this about?
Meinrad stared wide-eyed into the darkness beyond Suvee. “I ... I have to go...."
They broke the stillness with their protests and questions, but Ellory silenced them with a glance and caught Meinrad in a hard hug. Talisen felt drenched in his pain. What was going on?
Meinrad clung to him. “Papa, I'm frightened."
Ellory closed his eyes and held him. “I know."
"But I want to go to her."
"I know."
"She's been inside my mind ... soft, like a dove.... I should have told you. I'm sorry."
"No need.” He held Meinrad out at arm's length and gave him a little shake. “If you are ever unhappy, you are to come straight home to me, boy. Understand?"
Meinrad nodded, and Ellory waved him away toward Suvee.
The revenant brushed the sand from Meinrad's shirt, straightened his collar, and attempted to smooth his errant bangs. The fledgling hissed and ducked and bared his fangs, but Suvee caught him by the scruff of the neck and went on with his ministrations. “Master Benedikt, Freya wants to see your woman. An hour and a half from now. Sartori's."
Talisen frowned. His woman? She pushed past the fledglings to stand beside Ellory, now less enchanted with the angel/prince/revenant/whatever. “That's consort, buster."
Ellory pulled her back. “I will not take Talisen into that place."
"It isn't an invitation. Do not come late."
He turned and ushered Meinrad toward the forest.
Shelby darted past Talisen. “Meinrad? Hey, where you going? We haven't done the marshmallows yet."
Meinrad turned and caught her up in his arms. “I'll be home tomorrow night, Strudel Face."
"But where are you going?"
"I'm going to visit a beautiful queen. She doesn't have any family. She's lonely and needs me to be her friend."
"But we need you, too."
"Yes, but we have each other, Shelby. That's for always.” He turned his gaze on his siblings, his voice unsteady. “No one can take your places in my heart."
When he set Shelby down, the little girl stood back and rubbed her eyes with her fists. He turned her around and sent her back to Sean. With one more glance at his brothers and sisters, at Talisen, and finally, at Ellory, he turned and followed Suvee into the night.
The beach became quiet and deserted again.
"I've lost him,” Ellory whispered. “He must look to Freya now for everything he has left to learn."
He looked in that moment like any other father might when he'd just let go of one of his children. Talisen could feel him fighting for control. He was a burning, seething mass of sorr
ow, as though Meinrad's departure had opened an old wound. Was he still grieving for his lost children, the ones Dylan had killed?
Try as she might, she couldn't just turn her back on his feelings. She tugged his arm. “Walk with me, Ellory."
He hesitated, casting a glance at the fledglings.
She squeezed his hand. “We won't go far. You can still keep an eye on them."
He nodded and let her lead him a short distance up the beach. She didn't say anything. When he reached for her, she let him wrap his arms around her
The waves rolled in with a sigh. The salty wind whipped at their hair and faces. Moments passed, and Talisen perceived that Ellory's emotions took a different direction—toward comfort. Toward her. In response, she became more aware of his embrace, his need for her to hold him. His need for her. His hunger.
It caught her up in its current, throbbing and hot, sweet and beguiling, utterly inescapable. Ellory had said she would recognize it when it happened, and she did, because her entire being answered, ready and willing and as needy as he was. In spite of herself.
He lifted his head and met her gaze. His pupils were already dilated. They flickered from dull red to black to brown to dull red again. To crimson. To fire.
In seconds, nothing inside of her survived that inferno but her need to give him whatever he needed, and to take from him what only he could give.
Ellory kissed her throat. “Talisen."
"I can't.” Yet she turned her mouth up to his, then pressed her face into his shirt. “I ... I want to ... but I shouldn't...."
He held her close enough for her to feel every inch of him. “Sartori's is the last place I should take you when I have an appetite. Not exactly what I had planned for us this evening, but I swear I'll make it up to you."
Her loins throbbed at the thought of it, and she flinched against him.
He tilted her head back so she looked at him. “Don't be afraid. You know what it is, now, that I need from you. You know what I want to give you."
Her legs shook. She forced herself to think of practicalities. “If I've got to meet your queen, I want a bath and a change of clothes first. What are we waiting for?"
"The babysitter. Meical's on his way."
